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Powered by 4 - May 25, 2011

2011May 25

COMMENTS

Ditch the Hang-ups

today's reading.Acts 10:19-48 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are looking for you...

think about it.
What do you learn about God's timing (10:19-33)? How does that help you with your trust in Him? What changes for Peter (10:34-43)? How does the Holy Spirit confirm God's lack of partiality (10:44-48)? How does that encourage you in your faith? In how you relate to other people?

the blog.
Peter, a Jew, mingles with and preaches to Gentiles in Acts 10:24-48. Up until this point, Jews did not associate with "unclean" non-Jews or Gentiles. Peter tells the group, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or visit anyone of another nation. . ." But then Peter continues with these incredibly important words. "But God has shown me that I should not call any person uncommon or unclean" (vs. 28). Peter then reinforces this statement when he preaches to Cornelius' group saying, "Truly I understand that God shows no partiality" (vs. 34).

If God shows no partiality, then I/we shouldn't either. But that's a tall order because you know as well as I do, that we all have prejudices and hang ups--things like the clothes people wear, what job a person holds, where someone lives, economic status, hairstyle, tattoos, piercings, speech accents and, of course, race and ethnicity.

So what do we need to do to put our prejudices aside? What's it going to take for you and me to respond like Peter? Tami W.

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